Incident Summary:

04/07/2001: At least five people were wounded when a bomb attached under a motorbike's seat exploded in the parking lot of the Sri Betong Hotel in Betong, Betong district, Thailand around 7:20pm. Several businesses were damaged in the explosion, including a nearby karaoke bar and a tavern. Leaflets were purportedly distributed in the area several days before the bombing claiming violence would occur in the area. Although no group claimed responsibility for the incident, authorities blamed the Pattani United Liberation Organisation (PULO), a group comprised of Muslim separatists, for the explosion.

GTD ID:
200104070006

When:
2001-04-07

Country:
Thailand

Region:
Southeast Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Betong

City:
Betong

Location Details:
The parking lot of the Sri Betong Hotel in Betong district, Yala province

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Business
Name of Entity Sri Betong Hotel
Specific Description Sri Betong Hotel and surrounding businesses and patrons
Nationality of Target Thailand
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Private citizens and property
Specific Description Private citizens and property in the vicinity of the hotel
Nationality of Target Thailand
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Unknown
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Vehicle
Weapon Details
Although no detail about the bomb was provided, authorities noted that a man was seen leaving the motorbike shortly before the explosion. Authorities said the bomb was attached under the seat of the motorbike.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Pattani United Liberation Organization (PULO) (suspected) No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 1
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 5 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 5
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Second bomb blast hits Thailand's south, at least four injured," Agence France-Presse, April 7, 2001.
"1 killed, 44 injured by 2 explosions in Thailand," Kyodo News, April 7, 2001.
"Separatists suspected in southern blasts," The Nation (Thailand), April 8, 2001.